New Zealand dare, England wear down – Eddie Jones is playing patience as counterpoint to the All Blacks’ artistrySteve Hansen reflected this week on how much European teams had improved since the 2015 World Cup when, for the first time, they failed to provide a semi-finalist. In Japan this time around there should be at least one semi-finalist from the north, more likely two. The group match between Wales and Australia on Sunday will reveal more but, at a World Cup in which the team with the best defence has tended to prevail, the deliberation with which they have started the tournament – no nonsense and fewer frills – has not been lost on Hansen. Related: Cokanasiga helps England crush...
Jockey who quit Britain over a lack of opportunities has now won a Grade One race and could end year on a bigger highSophie Doyle is no bigger than 8-1 to achieve victory at the Breeders’ Cup, following the first Grade One success of her career on Saturday night. The 33-year-old jockey, who quit Britain in 2012 over a lack of opportunities, came from the back aboard Street Band to win the Cotillion Stakes at Parx, just outside Philadelphia, turning over a hot favourite from Chad Brown’s stable in the previously unbeaten Guarana. Related: Nicky Henderson commits Altior to taking on fellow-titan Cyrname Tips by Chris Corrigan Continue reading...
Admirable Spaniard has always played in Roger Federer’s long shadow but he is still capable of generating his own lightRafa Nadal has never taken his talent for granted. Of the three players who have defined his era, he is the most humble. So, as he stands on the verge of surpassing Roger Federer’s 20 majors and drawing away from the 16 owned by Novak Djokovic, he knows that beating one of the hunting pack, Daniil Medvedev, to win his fourth US Open was significant in more ways than one.Sunday’s teeth-grinding five‑setter, which he could have ended way before its eventual five hours and 40 minutes’ duration, proved to everyone – including the winner – that, at 33, he has the...
Medvedev is waiting in the wings, but it’s still all to play for between Djokovic, Federer and Nadal, while a new challenger has shown the mentality Serena Williams needs to rediscoverNovak Djokovic arrived in New York with a shoulder injury, then Roger Federer suffered a stiff neck against Grigor Dimitrov. No matter. Rafael Nadal was there to represent the big three and to take his 19th grand slam title, putting him one behind Federer. So much is on the line in these last years of their careers and each final seems to be laced with more historical significance than before. Had Nadal finished off Federer in the 2017 Australian Open final, he would already be the leader. Had Federer won...
Razzle-dazzle and tittle-tattle in the best seats enhance the wow factor but detract from on-court idiosyncrasiesWhen James Haskell, the former England bruiser, announced recently he was swapping the rugby pitch for the MMA octagon, he explained that an inspiration for the switch was Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. “I was only thinking during Wimbledon that I wonder what it’s like to be an individual sportsman at the highest level,” he said, “when you have to look after yourself and don’t have teammates to fall back on.”It’s true, a court can be a lonely place. Which is probably why the top players all speak so highly of the teams behind them. No victory speech is complete without thanks for the coach,...